Flower Pot Cakes

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180˚C/350˚F/Gas4. Grease the dariole moulds and line the bases with circles of baking parchment. Grease the loaf tin and line with baking parchment.

Cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs and vanilla then beat into the butter mixture a little at a time. Sift the flour, cocoa and salt and fold in well. Divide the mixture between the prepared moulds to half-full. The remaining mixture goes into the loaf tin; spread it evenly, about 1cm (1.2 in) thick.

Place the dariole moulds and the loaf tin in the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes until risen and firm. Allow to cool, and then remove from the dariole moulds and the loaf tin to a wire rack until completely cold.

Using a rolling pin, roll out the light brown royal icing to make 20 x 30cm (8x 12in) rectangle. Using a sharp knife and a ruler, cut the icing to fit around the sides of the dariole cakes, so they look like little pots – about 5-6 am (2- 2 ½ in), depending on how high the cakes are – then make four thin strips, about 1.5cm (1in) for the pot rims. Re-roll trimmings to make the strips, if necessary.

Using cookie cutter, cut out four flower shapes and leaves from the loaf-tin cake. Break the white chocolate into small pieces and melt over a bowl of simmering water. Dip one side of the flower cakes into the chocolate and cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle the coconut (or grated white chocolate) on top and pale M&M in the centre.

Add some drops of green food colouring or the green tea powder to the rest of the melted white chocolate. Dip the leaves into the green chocolate and set aside to harden. To serve, attach the flower and the leaves to the pot using wooden skewers (remove skewers before eating).

Information

Makes 4